Improvement in animal-traps



J. O. AMBROSE. Animal-Trap.

No. 196,549 Patented Oct. 30, I877.

WITNEIEEEE INVENTUK 6 QWAM/ w% j a? N.FETERS. FHOTO UTHOGRAPNEILWASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN c. AMBROSE, OF HILLSBOROUGH, onro.

IMPROVEMENT IN ANlMAL-TRAPS.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,649, datedOctober 30, 1877 application filed August 11, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN G. Alvrsnosn, of Hillsborough, in the countyof Highland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Animal-Traps;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,-clear-, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it pertains to make and use it,

- reference bein g-hadto the accompanying drawings, which-form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in animal-traps; and it consistsin abox which has an openingthrough all of its sides, so

' that the animal can enter from any one except the inner side, and cansee straight through,

and which is applied to one end of a scalebeam, and so balancedthatwhenever an animal of any kind enters: the box for the purpose ofreaching the bait the box at once sinks downward with it to the bottomof the guide, in

t which it moves, and just opposite an opening into the cage, as will bemore fully described hereinafter.

The accompanying drawing represents my invention I i y a represents anordinary cage, of any de sired form, shape, or construction, but whichis here shown as open upon two of its sides,

so that the light can pass freely through. Upon the top of this cage isplaced the standard b, in the top of which is pivoted the beam 0, whichhas a weight, d, attached to one end, and the box g: to the other. Theweight and the box are so arranged that the weight will I justslightlycounterbalance the box, and'thus keep the box raised upward toits full extent whenever it is left free to move. The box has i aportion of its sides cut away on all of its sides, as shown, so thatbait of any kind that opening through that end of thetrap, and this Ilower'box serves asa guide to the box 9 in its vertical play. 4

The operation oftrap is'asfollows: The

y weight is adjusted-upon the beam so as to slightly overbalance the box9 and any bait that may be placed therein. The animal, seeing the baitin the box, passes through one of the openings in its sides, and nosooner is its weight placed upon the bottom of the box 9 than the boxsinks downward to the bottom of the box i, carrying tlie animal with it.The sides of the box t cover over the openings in the sides of the box9, so that the only way of escape for the animal is through the hole inthe end of the trap, when the box g, being freed, at once rises intoposition again, and is thus automatically set again. After the animalonce passes into the trap the guard 0 prevents its escape back by theway through which he came.

Various devices may be applied to the standard for the purpose ofpreventing the beam from, being drawn down too far at its weighted end;but a small pin passed through the recess in its top, so as to act as astop to the lever, is preferable.

It will be seen that the box 9 has an opening, t, through everyside,'not only so that the animal can enter from any one except theinner side, but so that the animal can see straight through the box.

Many animals will not enter a box or anything that has a suspicious lookto them, but will not hesitate to walk into a box as long as they cansee through the other side.

I am aware of the patent to Stowe and Loop, April 25, 1871, and this Idisclaim.

I am also aware that traps have been con-- structed with openings clearthrough their various sides, and such I do not broadly claim.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

In a trap constructed substantially as described, the box 9, having anopening, t, through each side, and being arranged to rise above the topof the box 03, so that the animal can see straight through, as describedand shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this23d day of July, 187 7.

JOHN G. AMBROSE.

